The class settles down into their seats as the teacher is about to begin his lecture. Some students who see the topic of discussion role their eyes.
"Aw man, we already know about the basics of magic. We have been taught since we were young. When can we learn advanced spells and cool tricks to use?" Was the thought process of many.
All except for one boy, Alistair waited on with bated breath at the teachers every word as he begins his lecture.
"Okay class. I am sure you all think you know everything about the fundamental levels of magic and it's uses right?"
Murmurs and nods of agreement circulate the classroom. The teacher then smirks and then goes into a line of questioning.
"I'm sure you all know about the two top trees of magic that break down into more trees of magic."
After noticing the atmosphere in the room from the other kids, the class speaks in unison.
"Yeah!"
"Well, then you must know all about magics pivotal role in the ascension process right?"
This time, everyone remains quiet. Everyone understands that magic is important in ascending. As for how, it is a closely guarded secret for reasons they don't understand.
"Well, it would seem that I have something to teach you all after all. So we need to start at the beginning to explain it all."
The teacher throws a rune into the air and it sticks to the ceiling in the center of the class. Moments later, it projects a hologram that covers the entire class. Particles and masses of multicolored lights hang in the air.
"Okay class, as I stated before, we have two main branches of magic that we know of. Tangible magic and Intangible magic."
As he speaks, the lights in the air follow along with his words. It demonstrates two different masses of multicolored lights.
One that looks like a barely visible outline of a cloud, the only way to see its shape is from the twinkling lights in its center. The other is a cube with crisp edges and a metallic multicolored shine.
"Both of these branches of magic contain everything that we currently know about magic. Even the most powerful of ascended are bound to at least one of these trees. First, let's look at Intangible magic."
The mystical solid cube is pushed out of the hologram and the cloud of lights becomes the center.
"Inside this tree of magic, we have multiple different specialties. To name a few; Spacial, Augment, Light, Impairments, Healing, and many more. Even after all this time, we are still discovering new specialties. Just last year, the specialty of death was found."
A small dark purple light inside of the cloud gets magnified and brought into focus. In the hologram, a sketchy looking skull appears in the lights depths. Immediately after, the teacher waves his hand and the cloud of lights comes back into focus.
"Based on each specialties intricacies, it's depths of mastery could take days, months, years, even multiple lifetimes to see any progress in. Many ascended have sought ways to extend their life in the pursuit of diving deeper into their respective specialties."
One of the green lights in the cloud lights shines brighter before being magnified and focused on.
"The specialties should not be thought of as just a static concept. This is how all ascended need to think of they want to improve in their respective fields. Let's take the healing specialty for instance. What is the best way you can think of using healing to benefit you in a fight?"
He spreads his hands while looking at the students in a manner that offers free discourse. One of the students speaks up and says,
"Using hit and run tactics and healing yourself while running away?"
The green light flashes a looping scene of the tactic the boy stated. Seeing this, more students join in and say their thoughts and watch it play out before the teacher finally takes back control.
"You could do all of those but it wouldn't be a proper development for healing magic, only your fighting style."
He takes a thinking pose for a few seconds and then says, "Why not use the healing magic to over heal someone? Causing abnormal growths and tumors before completely killing them? Why not use the healing magic to augment your own personal abilities?
The point I am trying to make is that specialties that are thought to be used for specific purposes have multiple instead. Fire magic can be used for personal cleaning if toned down enough, healing magic can be used for offense and more. It all relies on your own imagination."
Over top of each light, multiple faces appear briefly.
"These are some of the most famous ascended who have blazed a trail for future generations. However, that trail still needs to be properly comprehended by each individual that chooses to walk it. It is also not recommended to get fixated on an already existing path."
He waits a moment for everyone to digest this. Alistair takes advantage of this time to raise his hand for a question. The teacher notices and calls on him.
"Yes, what is your question?"
"Why should we not try to pursue an existing path? Didn't you just say that these people blazed a trail for us?"
"Yes I did. These predecessors have walked a path of trial and error for future generations, as we all must do. You will need to find a unique path all your own as the path that they chose ultimately lead to their demise."
"D-demise? Isn't that just a part of life though?" Another student in the class speaks up in disbelief.
"It is for the average person. Ascended however, do not need to be subjected to the evolutionary flaw known as death. That will lead us into the topic that everyone is waiting for, how magic is vital for ascension."
The metallic cube comes back into focus before the outline of a person appears over each of the shapes.
"You all have been struggling to increase the reserves of your magic and trying to grasp the basics of your own paths already. The reason for this is because of your foundation. You will need to strengthen your foundation as much as possible to survive ascension."
It takes a few moments for the children to realize that he said survive. One of the students speaks up,
"You mean we can die just from trying to ascend? Isn't that a bit much? My father taught me that there can be backlash that will damage your future chances of advancing but nothing about death."
"Really? You think humanities first step towards breaking away from the cycle of death has so little consequences? If it was only that, then humanity would have so many ascended that we would have taken back the world by now.
Your foundation is important because of what the backlash consists of. You are to condense your magic and form your own specialty seed. The more magic you have, the larger that seed will grow. If you do not have enough magic, that seed will rupture inside of you and kill you."
The class goes silent as the devastating truth is revealed. They now understood why the method to ascension is a secret. If everyone knew about this from the beginning, how many people would willingly risk their life for such an unsure reward?
After a brief moment, the teacher resumes his lecture on the current branches of magic that they have knowledge of.